Bowling sandal

ABSTRACT

A bowling sandal does not completely encase a bowler&#39;s foot, allowing their feet to breathe while bowling. The bowling sandal can be made from a bowling shoe sole along with binding straps to secure the shoe onto the foot. The bowling sandal can also include breather holes throughout the shoe to aid in air flow and circulation. The bowling sandal can also include an enclosure on the heel to make it better by providing more support for the heel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/499,064 filed Jun. 20, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bowling sandal and, more particularly, to a sandal bowling shoe that allows a bowler's feet to breathe and stay cooler while bowling.

Conventional bowling shoes enclose a user's feet and are usually made of a non-breathable fabric, such as leather. A bowler's feet can get hot in such shoes, making them uncomfortable to wear for a long period of time.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved bowling shoe that may allow a bowler's feet to breathe and stay cooler while bowling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a bowling sandal comprises an outer sole operable to be used as bowling footwear while bowling; an inner sole attached to the outer sole, the inner sole operable to receive a user's foot; and one or more straps adapted to adjustably secure the bowling sandal to a user's foot.

In another aspect of the present invention, a bowling sandal comprises an outer sole operable to be used as bowling footwear while bowling; an inner sole attached to the outer sole, the inner sole operable to receive a user's foot; one or more straps adapted to adjustably secure the bowling sandal to a user's foot; one or more uppers extending across the bowling sandal, the uppers adapted to wrap around an upper portion of the user's foot when inserted into the bowling sandal; and a heel support extending from the bowling sandal at a heel end thereof.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for providing air circulation to a bowler's foot while bowling comprises donning bowling sandals as footwear, the bowling sandals having an outer sole operable to be used as bowling footwear while bowling, an inner sole attached to the outer sole, the inner sole operable to receive a user's foot, and one or more straps adapted to adjustably secure the bowling sandal to the bowler's foot.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling sandal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bowling sandal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the bowling sandal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the bowling sandal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate design of a bowling sandal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate design of a bowling sandal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate design of a bowling sandal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bowling sandal that does not completely encase a bowler's foot, allowing their feet to breathe. The bowling sandal can be made from a bowling shoe sole along with binding straps to secure the shoe onto the foot. The bowling sandal can also include breather holes throughout the shoe to aid in air flow and circulation. The bowling sandal can also include an enclosure on the heel to make it better by providing more support for the heel.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a bowling sandal 10 can include an outer sole 12 adapted for use on a bowling lane. The bottom of the outer sole 12 can be designed similarly to conventional bowling shoes. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom of the outer sole 12 can include a first area 24 near the toe end of the outer sole 12, and second and third areas 26, 28, on each side of the bottom of the outer sole 12. These areas 24, 26, 28 may be made of different materials to provide the bowler with a sliding surface and a non-sliding surface, for example. Other bottom designs for the bowling sandal 10, of course, may be contemplated within the scope of the present invention, provided the design is a bowling alley acceptable. For example, mark-producing black rubber or scratching-producing hard plastic may be unacceptable for use in on the bowling lanes.

An inner sole 14 may be attached to the outer sole 12. The inner sole 14 is operable to receive a user's foot thereupon. The inner sole 14 may be provided for support and comfort of the user.

One or more uppers 16 may extend from the sides of the inner sole 14 and/or outer sole 12. The uppers 16 may, for example, extend from one side to another side of the inner/outer soles 14, 12. The uppers 16 may extend, for example, across the users toes or instep. The uppers 16 may be made of a solid material, such as leather, or may be made of a stretchable material, such as an elastic material. In some embodiments, a combination of a solid material may be used with a stretchable material to provide for an adjustable upper.

One or more straps 18 may extend across the bowling sandal 10, adapted to be strapped across the user's instep. The strap 18 may be adjustable by various methods, such as a hook and loop fastener 22, such as Velcro®. Other mechanisms for adjustably securing the strap over the user's instep may be provided, such as a clasp, buckles, hooks, pins, or the like.

The bowling sandal 10 may include a heel support 20. The heel support 20 may extend upwards from a heel section of the inner and/or outer soles 14, 12. The heel support 20 may provide sufficient support to the bowler while using the bowling sandal 10.

FIGS. 5 through 7 show examples of various designs of the bowling sandal 10 of the present invention. It should be noted that the term “sandal”, as used herein, refers to any footwear that can include openings rather than completely covering the foot as with conventional bowling shoes. The designs shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 show various examples of bowling sandals contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Of course, other sandal designs may be provided within the scope of the present invention.

The bowling sandal 10 of the present invention may be provided in various sizes, styles, colors and strapping materials. The bowling sandal, regardless of style and the like, provides the bowler with bowling footwear while keeping the user's feet cool and comfortable.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A bowling sandal comprising: an outer sole operable to be used as bowling footwear while bowling; an inner sole attached to the outer sole, the inner sole operable to receive a user's foot; and one or more straps adapted to adjustably secure the bowling sandal to a user's foot.
 2. The bowling sandal of claim 1, further comprising one or more uppers extending across the bowling sandal, the uppers adapted to wrap around an upper portion of the user's foot when inserted into the bowling sandal.
 3. The bowling sandal of claim 1, further comprising a heel support extending from the bowling sandal at a heel end thereof.
 4. The bowling sandal of claim 1, further comprising a bottom portion of the outer sole being made of multiple materials.
 5. A bowling sandal comprising: an outer sole operable to be used as bowling footwear while bowling; an inner sole attached to the outer sole, the inner sole operable to receive a user's foot; one or more straps adapted to adjustably secure the bowling sandal to a user's foot; one or more uppers extending across the bowling sandal, the uppers adapted to wrap around an upper portion of the user's foot when inserted into the bowling sandal; and a heel support extending from the bowling sandal at a heel end thereof.
 6. The bowling sandal of claim 5, further comprising a bottom portion of the outer sole being made of multiple materials.
 7. A method for providing air circulation to a bowler's foot while bowling, the method comprising: donning bowling sandals as footwear, the bowling sandals having an outer sole operable to be used as bowling footwear while bowling, an inner sole attached to the outer sole, the inner sole operable to receive a user's foot, and one or more straps adapted to adjustably secure the bowling sandal to the bowler's foot.
 8. The method of claim 7, adjusting the one or more straps to secure the bowling sandal to the bowler's foot.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising supporting the bowler's foot inside the bowling sandal with a heel support extending from the bowling sandal at a heel end thereof. 